Taylor Hall is a terrific young player and I don't have much doubt that, in the context of "market value" in today's NHL, he will be worth every penny of the $42 million big stack the Edmonton Oilers will pay him during the seven-year extension they just signed him to.

While I do have issues with a market that's deemed it necessary for teams to cough up the kind of dough we've seen thrown around at players two years into entry level contracts or just coming out of them -- as anybody listening to the Jason Gregor Show the last couple of days will know – that's the price point in dollars and term that's been set. Unwisely so, but here we are.

Would the Oilers, who've flushed countless bundles of lettuce down the toilet with bad contracts to lesser players since the 2006 Stanley Cup run, have been smart to ignore the market that's been set and play hardball with Hall, the next captain of the team, in the name of fiscal responsibility? Three guesses.

Framed in that context, I won't have a problem when the Oilers announce they've inked Jordan Eberle to exactly the same cap hit, give or take $100,000, in coming days, which they will. And I won't be unhappy about one year from now when the sign Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the same dollars and term.

That's 6-6-6 for three players who, despite the length of term, will still be on the right side of 30 when the contracts expire. That's fixing your price point and buying some UFA years for three players who'll be Oilers property for the most productive years of their careers.

That, Steve Tambellini haters, is an astute move.

THE OTHER MONEY

With the big ticket items set, or about to be over the next year, what the Oilers and Tambellini have to do from here on out is get a whole lot better at taking care of the relatively small change (rookie Nail Yakupov, Ales Hemsky and Sam Gagner notwithstanding) when it comes to the rest of the roster. In other words, they'll need some value contracts.

While we've seen teams run into difficulty on that front before – the Chicago Blackhawks come to mind – paying your top end and core players what the market dictates can be done, but you've got to watch the little deals so that big ones make sense. Not rocket science, or it shouldn’t be.

Jonathan Willis, all the writers here actually, have touched on Tambellini's penchant for spending an extra $100,000 (or more) here or an extra $100,000 there for players further down the pecking order when filling spots outside the team's top six forwards, top four defensemen and starting goaltender.

Shawn Horcoff's contract, in term and dollars, is obviously a millstone the team will have to ride out. Nikolai Khabibulin's punitive pact mercifully runs out after this season. Those are the obvious overpays but what's done is done. What Tambellini has to do from here on out moving forward is be better at getting value outside those top 11 spots.

Overpays for role players on the third and fourth lines and third pairings on defense, when taken individually, might not raise red flags, but collectively they will cripple a team paying the marquee guys on the top end, as the Oilers intend to do with Hall, Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins. This is not a revelation, is it? Watch the pennies, the dollars will take of themselves.

Listen to Robin Brownlee Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Jason Gregor Show on TEAM 1260.

A sports writer since 1983, including stints at The Edmonton Journal and The Sun 1989-2007, I happily co-host the Jason Gregor Show on TSN 1260 twice a week and write when so inclined. Have the best damn lawn on the internet. Most important, I am Sam's dad. Follow me on Twitter at Robin_Brownlee. Or don't.

1) Every teams young players will all be "one year more mature, one year better, one year closer to their primes"

2) Hemsky was reportedly healthy last season and put up only 36 points while getting murdered by tough opposition.

3) Whitney is the a key to success but the Oilers have not obtained any insurance if he is NOT the player he once was.

4) Yakupov will be 19 if/when the seasons starts. He is only 4 months younger than Jonathan Huberdeau who is likely going to be the BEST 19 year old player on the planet.
Huberdeau outscored Yakupov in junior last season despite playing 5 fewer games.

5) Schultz is a nice addition but bear in mind he will be a ROOKIE and is older than:

Drew Doughty

Cam Fowler

Erik Gudbranson

Dimiri Kulkov

Jake Gardiner

Adanm Larsson

Justin Faulk

Zach Bogosian

Victor Hedman

Jared Spurgeon

Marco Scandella

Dimitri Orlov

Nick Leddy

Jake Gardiner

In other words, a majority of NHL teams have young defensemen who already have NHL experience and, while Shultz may join that group, he has zero NHL experience and could hardly be described as one of the "BEST 22 year old defensive prospects in all of hockey".

It just isn't true.

I'd like to reply to your post but I don't read your posts as I found out a long time ago that they are nonsense

1) Every teams young players will all be "one year more mature, one year better, one year closer to their primes"

2) Hemsky was reportedly healthy last season and put up only 36 points while getting murdered by tough opposition.

3) Whitney is the a key to success but the Oilers have not obtained any insurance if he is NOT the player he once was.

4) Yakupov will be 19 if/when the seasons starts. He is only 4 months younger than Jonathan Huberdeau who is likely going to be the BEST 19 year old player on the planet.
Huberdeau outscored Yakupov in junior last season despite playing 5 fewer games.

5) Schultz is a nice addition but bear in mind he will be a ROOKIE and is older than:

Drew Doughty

Cam Fowler

Erik Gudbranson

Dimiri Kulkov

Jake Gardiner

Adanm Larsson

Justin Faulk

Zach Bogosian

Victor Hedman

Jared Spurgeon

Marco Scandella

Dimitri Orlov

Nick Leddy

Jake Gardiner

In other words, a majority of NHL teams have young defensemen who already have NHL experience and, while Shultz may join that group, he has zero NHL experience and could hardly be described as one of the "BEST 22 year old defensive prospects in all of hockey".

It just isn't true.

Hi liar

Gardiner, Doughty, Spurgeon and Scandella are all older then Schultz. That's 4 lies in one post.

We are going into this season with a nearly identical roster as last year's 29th place team (plus two rookies). Tambo making contract decisions and the Oilers being a perennial competitor are unlikely to coincide.

Everytime I read this statement it has me shaking my head...are the names on the roster nearly the same as the 29th place roster from last year?

YES.....but

Hall, Eberle, Nuge, Gagner are all one year more mature, one year better, one year closer to their primes. Hemsky is still in his prime and if healthy will be much better than the last two years. Whitney has said that he was able to train this summer unlike last summer so it appears he's healthier (at least to start the season). If he is the team is better because of it. Ladislav Smid arrived last season and is playing the best hockey of his career. I know the jury is still out on Jeff Petry but by all accounts it looks as though he may have arrived and will be playing the best hockey of his career. Another possible arrival is that of Dubnyk who appears to have taken the number one job given his 20 wins and stellar play over the last half of last year.

Add to this the fact that the Oilers just added the "BEST" 18 yr old player on the planet as well as one of the "BEST" 22 yr old defenseman prospects in all of hockey and I think there is room for optimism on this team being much better than they were last year.

I choose to look at the glass half full. If they stop losing their best players to injury for a change then I think there's every chance the improvement could be drastic this season.

I attribute it more to MacT. than just Tams for starters ! Still not sold on Tams , nor am i willing to give him full credit as others easily do . Recent decisions have a lot to do with MacT. on board , and Lowe who puts their approval if warranted ( if he feels it right) into action . Tams getting to much credit , and MacT.(specifically) and Lowe very little .

I am about as opposite of a Mr. Dithers fan as there is out there , but come on people. He can't take all the blame for the bad and receive no credit for the good. We, as fans, have no way of knowing who was involved in the contract negotiation. As GM, Tambo is the face of all organizational decisions whether good or bad(many). If you like the deal then give the man some credit.

Everytime I read this statement it has me shaking my head...are the names on the roster nearly the same as the 29th place roster from last year?

YES.....but

Hall, Eberle, Nuge, Gagner are all one year more mature, one year better, one year closer to their primes. Hemsky is still in his prime and if healthy will be much better than the last two years. Whitney has said that he was able to train this summer unlike last summer so it appears he's healthier (at least to start the season). If he is the team is better because of it. Ladislav Smid arrived last season and is playing the best hockey of his career. I know the jury is still out on Jeff Petry but by all accounts it looks as though he may have arrived and will be playing the best hockey of his career. Another possible arrival is that of Dubnyk who appears to have taken the number one job given his 20 wins and stellar play over the last half of last year.

Add to this the fact that the Oilers just added the "BEST" 18 yr old player on the planet as well as one of the "BEST" 22 yr old defenseman prospects in all of hockey and I think there is room for optimism on this team being much better than they were last year.

I choose to look at the glass half full. If they stop losing their best players to injury for a change then I think there's every chance the improvement could be drastic this season.

Some things to consider:

1) Every teams young players will all be "one year more mature, one year better, one year closer to their primes"

2) Hemsky was reportedly healthy last season and put up only 36 points while getting murdered by tough opposition.

3) Whitney is the a key to success but the Oilers have not obtained any insurance if he is NOT the player he once was.

4) Yakupov will be 19 if/when the seasons starts. He is only 4 months younger than Jonathan Huberdeau who is likely going to be the BEST 19 year old player on the planet.
Huberdeau outscored Yakupov in junior last season despite playing 5 fewer games.

5) Schultz is a nice addition but bear in mind he will be a ROOKIE and is older than:

Drew Doughty

Cam Fowler

Erik Gudbranson

Dimiri Kulkov

Jake Gardiner

Adanm Larsson

Justin Faulk

Zach Bogosian

Victor Hedman

Jared Spurgeon

Marco Scandella

Dimitri Orlov

Nick Leddy

Jake Gardiner

In other words, a majority of NHL teams have young defensemen who already have NHL experience and, while Shultz may join that group, he has zero NHL experience and could hardly be described as one of the "BEST 22 year old defensive prospects in all of hockey".

Everytime I read this statement it has me shaking my head...are the names on the roster nearly the same as the 29th place roster from last year?

YES.....but

Hall, Eberle, Nuge, Gagner are all one year more mature, one year better, one year closer to their primes. Hemsky is still in his prime and if healthy will be much better than the last two years. Whitney has said that he was able to train this summer unlike last summer so it appears he's healthier (at least to start the season). If he is the team is better because of it. Ladislav Smid arrived last season and is playing the best hockey of his career. I know the jury is still out on Jeff Petry but by all accounts it looks as though he may have arrived and will be playing the best hockey of his career. Another possible arrival is that of Dubnyk who appears to have taken the number one job given his 20 wins and stellar play over the last half of last year.

Add to this the fact that the Oilers just added the "BEST" 18 yr old player on the planet as well as one of the "BEST" 22 yr old defenseman prospects in all of hockey and I think there is room for optimism on this team being much better than they were last year.

I choose to look at the glass half full. If they stop losing their best players to injury for a change then I think there's every chance the improvement could be drastic this season.

I'm with you on this one, also add khabby's 2 wins in 20 after Christmas with Dubnyk replacing the majority of those games and cam barker being let go, those 2 factors are huge in giving us more wins next year.

My office "DSF first post of the thread" pool number is comment #24. C'MON DSF!!!

word on the street is, he is still to busy trying to figure out how to prove he meant all along that schultz would sign in edmonton even though almost every post he made on the subject over the course of the process said the opposite.

though, i guess it is easy to talk in circles when ones head is up ones ass...

If Ryan Whitney is healthy'er, how much better does he make the team...

If Ales Hemsky can return to form...

If Devan Dubnyk can supply good goaltending...

If out two rookies can make an impact...

If Ralf Kreuger can improve the team...

I actually believe all of these things might come together, and it is mainly because of my confidence in Ralf Kreuger as the coach. If he can get all of these pieces (the Eagers, Belangers, Horcoffs) pulling in the right direction, I see a significant jump as possible. And by that i mean fighting for a playoff spot.

I am just so tired of looking at a roster like Phoenix and thinking we should be better, but failing because we don't have a Dave Tippet.

I believe going outside the box and hiring Kreuger could go down as Tambo's best move as a GM.

word on the street is, he is still to busy trying to figure out how to prove he meant all along that schultz would sign in edmonton even though almost every post he made on the subject over the course of the process said the opposite.

though, i guess it is easy to talk in circles when ones head is up ones ass...

Cut DSF some slack - did you ever consider he might be busy? Those Kyle Wellwood dolls take a long time to blow up. As an aside, the Wellwood dolls are way better quality than the Gagner dolls.

From a strictly business standpoint, looking at the salary chart to which you linked, this 12/13 season could be the last year where Horcoff's salary is a millstone. I bet the two years where his salary is below his cap hit should make him very attractive to budget conscious teams trying to achieve the cap floor (this assumes that the new CBA contains a similar cap structure to the current one).

In terms of managing the non-big-ticket contracts, a major key is to take on short term liabilities and avoid long term liabilities. That way, if a contract mistake is made (and they will be), it becomes easier to escape the error rather than be saddled with long term debt.

1) Every teams young players will all be "one year more mature, one year better, one year closer to their primes"

2) Hemsky was reportedly healthy last season and put up only 36 points while getting murdered by tough opposition.

3) Whitney is the a key to success but the Oilers have not obtained any insurance if he is NOT the player he once was.

4) Yakupov will be 19 if/when the seasons starts. He is only 4 months younger than Jonathan Huberdeau who is likely going to be the BEST 19 year old player on the planet.
Huberdeau outscored Yakupov in junior last season despite playing 5 fewer games.

5) Schultz is a nice addition but bear in mind he will be a ROOKIE and is older than:

Drew Doughty

Cam Fowler

Erik Gudbranson

Dimiri Kulkov

Jake Gardiner

Adanm Larsson

Justin Faulk

Zach Bogosian

Victor Hedman

Jared Spurgeon

Marco Scandella

Dimitri Orlov

Nick Leddy

Jake Gardiner

In other words, a majority of NHL teams have young defensemen who already have NHL experience and, while Shultz may join that group, he has zero NHL experience and could hardly be described as one of the "BEST 22 year old defensive prospects in all of hockey".

I can see where you may think I am being overly optimistic but the power of positive thought knows no limit. Give in to it, you know you want to. Feel free to join in, DSF. May the spirit of Dennis Sobchuk be with you.

If Pronger had remained an Oiler, if Heatly or Vanek had been inclined to move north... we would not have Hall, RNH or comrade Yak. We would be indistinguishable from the flames, hanging on to mediocrity. Does anyone remember 1978? The oil tried desperately to lure a marquee player, first Marcel Dionne then Stan Smyl. No dice, but then a young man named Gretzky fell into our laps followed by a decade of dominance. The stars are aligned, folks.

The past is the past. If I were Shawn Horcoff I would have signed that deal to. He would have been a fool to say no to it. If Horc were paid $3 million nobody would have a problem with it.

I like the Hall signing and I think that Nuge and Ebs will get similar deals. I also think that eventually Yackupov will slot in at a similar amount and there will be a good contract for Justin Shultz when the time is right.

I think soon enough that Horcoff, Smyth, Khabibulin, Hemsky, etc. will be off the books so there will be room for others. Value signings who bring other things to the table are key. I just wonder if it will be Tambillini making those decisions or someone like MacT.

If the team continues to develop some of those support players or perhaps a top 4 d will come from the free agent market. When the team starts to win Edmonton WILL become a place free agents want to come to.

I think that it is great!!! that we are able to sign and keep our star's in the new NHL.Hopefully the NHL and NHLPA find a way to work out a new deal that makes everyone happy (including the fans) for many years.

While I agree with your assessment of Tambo's overpayment for role players, don't you think this problem will alleviate itself once the Oilers prove themselves to be a franchise with the ability to win? Up until now, what if not cash money, has been the incentive for a role player to sign in Edmonton? No look forward to the days where we can attract the Malhotras and Winniks of the world on value contracts because Edmonton is their best chance to win it all.

While I agree with your assessment of Tambo's overpayment for role players, don't you think this problem will alleviate itself once the Oilers prove themselves to be a franchise with the ability to win? Up until now, what if not cash money, has been the incentive for a role player to sign in Edmonton? No look forward to the days where we can attract the Malhotras and Winniks of the world on value contracts because Edmonton is their best chance to win it all.

While I agree with your assessment of Tambo's overpayment for role players, don't you think this problem will alleviate itself once the Oilers prove themselves to be a franchise with the ability to win? Up until now, what if not cash money, has been the incentive for a role player to sign in Edmonton? No look forward to the days where we can attract the Malhotras and Winniks of the world on value contracts because Edmonton is their best chance to win it all.

As long as a proven ability to win isn't coupled with a reputation for overpaying role-players, this might work out.

We are going into this season with a nearly identical roster as last year's 29th place team (plus two rookies). Tambo making contract decisions and the Oilers being a perennial competitor are unlikely to coincide.

I love the fact that Hall has been signed.......even though 6mil a season is high, Hall will earn every penny. I too hope that the other fab four will get the same and setting the bar is a good move, on management's part.

The issue I have is that any armchair critic, hockey insider, or current GM would have done exactly the same thing.........IMHO. This early signing cannot be attributed to Tamby but the entire management team. If Tamby is to get credit for anything, sometimes doing nothing is the right thing.

He still need to be thrown out of his office........try doing nothing in the real world Tamby and see how long you last in a job!

I attribute it more to MacT. than just Tams for starters ! Still not sold on Tams , nor am i willing to give him full credit as others easily do . Recent decisions have a lot to do with MacT. on board , and Lowe who puts their approval if warranted ( if he feels it right) into action . Tams getting to much credit , and MacT.(specifically) and Lowe very little .

If a good organization lets people do the jobs they are assigned, and Stu MacGregor exemplifies this in the amateur draft, then what is the impact of Rick Olcyk on the early days of this process?

His influence will likely grow the most over the next few years as the cap will need to be balanced more carefully.

From everything that I have read and written on rebuilds over the past few months, it would seem that so long as the owners and GMs keep their egos out of the way, their objectivity and cap managers should be able to keep everything in order.

I also think that, while our four young forwards are dynamic, elite-level talents, it will likely be to Edmonton's long-term advantage that there haven't been any "generational talent" labels attached to any of their top draft picks. It'd be nice to be able to dress a Sidney Crosby, but paying one and maintaining roster balance...

One last point, might Nugent-Hopkins get slightly more than Hall or Eberle, being a center. This might make it 6-6-7...Neighbour of the Beast.

I love the fact that Hall has been signed.......even though 6mil a season is high, Hall will earn every penny. I too hope that the other fab four will get the same and setting the bar is a good move, on management's part.

The issue I have is that any armchair critic, hockey insider, or current GM would have done exactly the same thing.........IMHO. This early signing cannot be attributed to Tamby but the entire management team. If Tamby is to get credit for anything, sometimes doing nothing is the right thing.

He still need to be thrown out of his office........try doing nothing in the real world Tamby and see how long you last in a job!

Typical hate em when he makes bad moves, hate em when he makes good moves. This was a good deal by Tambo and he's had a decent summer, admit it

I don't think you will see Hemsky coming off the books soon. His 5mil for 2 years is priced exactly right for who he is and what he has produced. The only IF is will his shoulder hold out. IF so playing with young talent will invigorate him and provide some lofty totals for a 28 yr old. Two years from now it may be 7mil for 5 years, bet on it!

Hall's contract is great for so many reasons. It sets the bar for the renewals of the fab 4, it locks up a potential star in the league for another 8 seasons, and gives Edmonton fans something to be happy about.

Can anyone remember the last time the Oil were able to lock up a great player to a contract of this length?

It's only been two days since this deal was announced, and the last two nights sleep have been the finest rest i've had in years. There's some obvious benifits for the masses in this Taylor Hall signing. Going to bed at night knowing Shawn Horcoffs days of being the highest paid player on this team are numbered... have actual healing qualities.

I'm really hoping when the Eberle signing is announced, it will also help the kids sleep better and help alleviate my wifes headaches.

Ebs has yet to sign.....Could it be that he is expecting more than #4. Ebs body of work does prove it. Hall should have waited and seen what Ebs expected and then signed or waited til they could be back in their bunk beds and come up with a plan together. This again shows Ebs intelligence level is higher than #4

My sense is that Tambellini is a big part of the strategy, but that he is now smart enough (or has been told to) to leave some of the direct discussions with players to others because he is not good at it. Knowing your weaknesses is important as a manager.

If Keven Lowe and MacT went to talk to Justin Shultz without 3 years of #1 draft picks in their pockets, they would not have gotten very far. It wouldn't matter if Jesus called along side of Gretzky, JS was not coming here without the rebuild strategy being in place (and by Jesus I of course mean Robbie Schremp).

word on the street is, he is still to busy trying to figure out how to prove he meant all along that schultz would sign in edmonton even though almost every post he made on the subject over the course of the process said the opposite.

though, i guess it is easy to talk in circles when ones head is up ones ass...

Word on the street is Schultz would score more points on a team that outscored the Oilers by 37 goals last season.

Now, you may argue he'll bet more opportunity to play in Edmonton but that's not necessarily a good thing from a team point of view.

We gained 12 points last year with Hall and Nuge both missing 20 games.

Had they played a full season would it mean 8-10 extra wins?? That’s a increase of now 16 points.

After Christmas, we lost 7 games in OT or SO, with the addidtion of 4 one goal regulation loses. Conceivably, we could get half those points, 7 more points.

That’s a conservative 20+ points we left on the table.

That would have given us 90+ points, and we are right there in the mix.

The Core will be older, stronger and better. Dubey is ready to shoulder the load after a strong second half. Throw in a healthy Hemmer and Whitney. We have also added Yak and Shultz as rookies which certainly wont hurt the cause.

A new coach that has the teams 110% buy in, and MacT as a strong consultant.

We gained 12 points last year with Hall and Nuge both missing 20 games.

Had they played a full season would it mean 8-10 extra wins?? That’s a increase of now 16 points.

After Christmas, we lost 7 games in OT or SO, with the addidtion of 4 one goal regulation loses. Conceivably, we could get half those points, 7 more points.

That’s a conservative 20+ points we left on the table.

That would have given us 90+ points, and we are right there in the mix.

The Core will be older, stronger and better. Dubey is ready to shoulder the load after a strong second half. Throw in a healthy Hemmer and Whitney. We have also added Yak and Shultz as rookies which certainly wont hurt the cause.

A new coach that has the teams 110% buy in, and MacT as a strong consultant.

We are right there and there is NO reason to believe otherwise.

You're right, it would take an imaginary amount of buy-in.

I need both my hands to type so I can't spare them to count the number of assumptions you're making.

No one is saying they won't be better, but you are counting on a lot of things falling together (and no injuries) for them to get into the playoff mix.

I would rather have reasonable expectations and have them surpassed if the stars align as hoped.

The point is that management is either relying on the same players being better and not providing much of a safety net if they aren't, or they are continuing to hold back on making necessary bold moves to continue to collect assets.

I would like to assume the front office staff are smarter than I am, so I'm guessing it's the later..

I want this group to defy the odds and succeed (playoffs), but I'm not sure that's the plan for this year. Why the hell is Khabi still on the roster if it is?

I thought your comment was on the money, brother. It is time to block out the bad and welcome the good. Even though the oil won't get more points this year than last year, it will be done in only about 50 games! Hello playoffs.

From my understanding, a prospect is defined as a hopeful yet to play a game. By definition, none of the defencemen on your list are prospects. So, J Schultz IS one of the best 22 year old D prospects.

All team's young players are a year more mature and a year closer to reaching their potential. True enough, but no other team has the quality and quantity of young players, not even close.